Cloth-folding machine

ABSTRACT

A cloth-folding machine comprises a main folding body and two catchers disposed to the front and rear of the main body. Means for pressing the folded portions of cloth has a pressing member which is adapted to be heated so as to produce a distinct fold line. The main folding body to be reciprocated on a folding table is provided with means for gradually elevating a cloth-folding means in synchronization with the reciprocation. Also provided in the main body is a system for detecting and correcting uneven disposition of cloth edges.

United States Patent [72} Inventors ShoichiAdachi 3,3-chome, Oyodocho-Mlnaml, Oyodo-ku; Sholtiro Kaga, 13,403, Hanaten-ch0,, Jotoku, both of Japan [21 Appl. No. 830,370 [22] Filed June 4, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 23, 1971 [54] CLOTH-FOLDING MACHINE 4 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

521 US. Cl 270/31, 38/28 {51] 1nt. C1 B65h 29/46 [50] Field olSearch 270/30, 31; 100/93 P; 38/12, 28, 71,108

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,747,794 2/1930 Samuel 270/31 X 3,456,580 7/1969 Preston 3,479,023 11/1969 Martin,Sr.etal.

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-L. R. Oremland Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack PATENTEnuuv 23 I97! SHEET 1 0F 8 SHOICHI ADACHI and SHOITIRO KAGA,

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INVENTORS BY. w rd ATTORNEY CLOTH-FOLDING MACHINE The present invention relates to an improvement in a machine for folding cloth in a predetermined length in an alternate manner so that the cloth may be readily cut in a desired length in the subsequent operation.

With a conventional folding machine comprising a main folding body adapted to be reciprocated backward and forward by an electric or manual operation and a pair of catchers disposed to the front and rear of the main body, a cloth is folded, in accordance with the reciprocation of the main folding body, in a length by the catchers while being caught and pressed alternately at the folded portions. Accordingly, in this folding operation the folds are merely pressed and caught by the pressing members of the catchers, so that the fold lines, though produced, can not be secured with the result that it becomes difficult to effect accurate and easy cutting operation thereon in the subsequent operation. Furthermore, in case the edge of cloth supplied is not evenly aligned due to irregular arrangement of cloth, there is a need to correct the position manually and the efficiency of folding operation becomes consequently deteriorated. When there arises a trouble in the reciprocating travel of the main folding body of folding machine due to the piling of folded cloth, the cloth-folding means mounted on the main folding body has to be manually elevated to a desired level.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a cloth-folding machine by which, while the cloth is caught and pressed by a pressing member of a catcher, a correct linear fold line can be produced in the folding portion to thereby facilitate reliable cutting operation along the folded portions in the subsequent operation.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a cloth-folding machine which, even in case where the cloth edges are not evenly aligned due to irregular arrangement of the cloth supplied, can rearrange the cloth to correct position upon automatically detecting the irregularity during folding operation and which is capable of folding the cloth into folded layers with edges evenly arranged in highly efficient operation.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a cloth-folding machine in which the cloth-folding means mounted on the main folding body is adapted to be automatically gradually elevated in synchronization with the reciprocating travel of the main folding body so that a long piece of cloth can be folded in a smooth continuous operation without causing trouble to the reciprocating travel of the main folding body even when the folded layers ofcloth are piled up.

In a cloth-folding machine having a folding table, a main folding body adapted to be reciprocated backward and forward thereon and two catchers disposed to the front and rear of the main folding body and spaced a desired distance apart, a cloth-pressing means on each of the catchers being adapted to press folded portions of a cloth alternately to fold the cloth in a predetermined length, a structure provided by the present invention comprises means on each of the catchers for pressing the folded portions of the cloth having a clothpressing member adapted to be heated, means suspended from the main folding body for gradually elevating a clothfolding means in synchronization with the reciprocating travel of the main folding body and a system for detecting and correcting uneven alignment of cloth edges due to irregular arrangement of the cloth.

Accordingly, the cloth-folding machine of the present invention is advantageous in that even in case the cloth is not properly placed before folding operation, it is capable of effecting efficient operation for folding the cloth in evenly arranged layers with its edges aligned correctly, and that the folded portions are not only pressed and caught by the pressing members of the catchers but the folds can also be formed distinctly in straight lines by the pressing members which are Heated by a heating means so that the cloth can be cut along the folds in the subsequent step readily and reliably. Furthermore, since the cloth-folding means mounted on the main folding body is adapted to be gradually elevated in synchronization with the reciprocating travel of the main folding body, the reciprocating travel of the main folding body can be effected free of troubles even when the cloth is piled up in folded layers, a continuous and efficient folding operation thus being ensured even with a long piece of cloth.

For the better understanding of the present invention, it will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic left side elevation showing a folding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic right side elevation showing the folding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view showing a main folding body of the folding machine in accordance with the present invention with part omitted;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation in vertical section showing the main folding body of the folding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation showing a switch section for effecting reciprocating travel of the main folding body in folding machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation showing means for elevating a cloth-folding means mounted on the main folding body in folding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view with part omitted showing the cloth-folding means in the main folding body of folding machine of the present invention as the means is mounted thereon;

FIG. 8 is a plan view with part omitted showing the above cloth folding means as it is mounted;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the above cloth-folding means;

FIG. 10 is a view in section taken along the line ll-Il showing the cloth-folding means in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view of a catcher in the folding machine of the present invention for holding and pressing the folded portions;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the catcher;

FIGS, 13 to 16 are schematic views illustrating the folding operation carried out by the folding machine of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating a system for detecting and correcting the irregularity in the arrangement of cloth.

The folding machine of the present invention to fulfill the foregoing objects will be described in detail with respect to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The folding machine of the present invention comprises a main folding body A adapted to be reciprocated backward and forward on rails R mounted on a cloth-folding table T, and two catchers B and B for pressing folds respectively disposed to the front and rear of the main folding body A in facing relationship with each other. The main folding body A comprises a pair of right and left side frames 1, l; a pair of right and left arms 2, 2 each extending upwardly from a front portion of the side frame I; a pair of right and left arms 3, 3 each extending upwardly from a rear portion of the side frame 1; connecting rods 4 connecting both of the side frames 1, 1; guide shafts 5 supported on the arms 2, 2 in the front; a guide roller 6 covered with rubber; and a guide shaft 7 supported on the arms 3, 3 in the rear, Between the side frames 1, l in the front lower portion is suspended a cloth-folding means which, as shown in FIGS, 9 and 10, comprises a pair of support plates 12, I2 formed in mound shape each having upper guide surfaces 8 adapted to raise a cloth-pressing member of the catcher to be described later to a desired level and having ends for dropping the member upon release therefrom, an engagement portion 9 for attaching chain to the outer side, slider projections 10 to be slidably moved along a vertical groove formed in the inner side of the side frame I, inwardly projecting stoppers ll, 11; two connecting rods 13, I3 disposed in parallel and fixed to the pair of support plates l2, 12 at opposite ends; and two pivotal members 16, 16 for folding cloth formed in L-shape in section and each pivotally supported on the connecting rods 13, 13 at opposite ends by means of a pair of pins 14, 14, projections 15, 15 of the pivotal members 16, 16 extending toward each other. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the slider projections 10, 10 of the support plates 12, 12 are fitted in the vertical grooves 17, 17 formed in the inner surfaces of side frames 1, I and engagement portions 9, 9 formed on the outer sides of the support plates 12, 12 are connected to a rotary shaft 18 supported on the side frames 1, 1 by means of chains 19, 19 reeved therearound so that the cloth-folding means thus constructed may be suspended between the side frames 1, 1 in the front lower portion, the folding means being thereby adapted to be elevated or lowered. Further the side frames 1, l are provided with a switch means for actuating the main folding body A into reciprocating travel and an elevating means for gradually elevating the cloth-folding means in synchronization with the reciprocation of the main folding body A. As shown in FIG. 5, the switch means comprises a slidable switch rod S disposed outside one of the side frames along the direction of reciprocation of main folding body and having two contact members 8,, S and two stationary contact members S S secured to the side frame 1. The switch means is so constructed that when the contact members S and S are brought into contact with each other (at this time the contact members S, and S are positioned apart) due to the sliding movement of the switch rod S to be described later, a reversible motor M mounted inside as shown in FIG. 4 is rotated in the normal direction to drive wheels 21 of the main folding body A in normal direction by means of a belt 20, while when the contact members S and S, are brought into contact with each other (at this time the contact members S and 8;, are detached) the motor M is driven in the opposite direction'to rotate the wheels 21 in the reverse direction. In this way, the main folding body A is set in reciprocation travel. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the elevating means for the cloth-folding means described above comprises a slidable ratchet rod 24 disposed outside the other side frame 1 along the direction of the travel of the main folding body A and provided with a ratchet 22 at its forward end and a restoring coil spring 23 at an intermediate portion, a group of gears 25 25 mounted outside the side frame 1 and operatively related with each other, a sprocket 26 operatively related with the group of the gears 25 25, a sprocket 26 mounted on an end of the above-mentioned rotary shaft 18 and a chain 27 reeved around sprockets 26, 26'. By forcing a spring (not shown) to bring the ratchet 22 of the ratchet rod 24 into meshing engagement with an outside gear 25 in the gear group, the ratchet rod 24, each time the main folding body A performs a round of reciprocating travel, is moved forward slidably while the coil spring 23 thereby being compressed, whereupon the group of gears 25 25, chain 27 and gear 26 are turned and the rotary shaft 18 is also turned to elevate the cloth folding means by one stage by means of the chain 19. The elastic force of the coil spring 23 then returns the ratchet rod 24 to the original position.

Furthermore, the main folding body A is provided with a system for detecting and correcting the irregularity in the arrangement of cloth during the folding process. It will be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 17 that the detecting and correcting system comprises a photoelectric device having a projector 23 and detector 29 which are respectively disposed at upper and lower positions inside the side frame 1 where the edge of cloth passes, the inside of the photoelectric device 30 being open so as to enable the cloth to pass therethrough; a hydraulic means having a hydraulic system control device 31 connected to the photoelectric device 30, electromagnetic switching valve 32 connected to the hydraulic system control device 3!, a pressure oil tank 33, a hydraulic pump 34, and motor M a cloth table 37 to place a pile of cloth thereon supported on the side frames 1, l and adapted to be finely slidably moved toward the right or left by means of rails 36 and antifriction members such as ball bearings hydraulic cylinder 39 attached to the cloth table 37 by a piston rod 38 connected thereto; and two oil pipes 40, 40 connecting the opposite sides of the hydraulic cylinder 39 to the electromagnetic switching valve 32. The deviation either to the left or right of the cloth edge detected by the photoelectric device 30 is communicated to the hydraulic system control device 31, whereupon the electromagnetic switching valve 32 is switched to supply pressure oil to either one of the oil pipes 40. Accordingly the piston rod 38 of the hydraulic cylinder 39 is moved either leftward or rightward, with the result that the cloth table 37 is also moved thus correcting the deviation of the cloth edge.

Next, the catchers B, B for pressing the folded portions disposed to the front and the rear of the main folding body A will be described. Both of the catchers are of the same structure except that the catcher B in the front is secured to the folding table T by means of clamps 41 so that the catcher may be shifted, whereas the catcher B in the rear is fixedly mounted on the folding table T. As shown in FIGS. 1] and 12, each of the catchers comprises a cloth pressing member 45 disposed between the forward ends of a pair of right and left elevating arms 42, 42 and having a transversely extending card clothing 43 and a heater 44 in mesh form; a pair of right and left support sideplates 46, 46 pivotally supporting the base V ends of the elevating arms 42, 42; and several connecting rods 47 connecting the support plates 46, 46, each of the support plates 46, 46 being provided with a vertical guide slot 48 and an oblique guide slot 49 for effecting correct upward and downward movement of the elevating arms 42. A slider projection 50 on the elevating arm 42 is inserted in the vertical guide slot 48 and a connecting rod 5] of the elevating arms 42, 42, in the oblique guide slot 49. On the outer side of the elevating arm 42 is provided a guide roller 52. By the contact effected between this guide rollers 52 and the previously mentioned upper guide surfaces 8 in the cloth-folding means in the main folding body A, the cloth-pressing member 45 is guided upward. Between the connecting rod 51 on the elevating arms 42, 42 and the connecting rod 47 on the support side plates 46, 46 are provided two coil springs 53, 53 which serve to control abrupt downward movement of the cloth-pressing member 45.

Furthermore, the front catcher B is provided with a receiving plate 54 to be struck against by the forward end of the switch rod 5 mounted on the main folding body A, while behind the rear stationary catcher B is formed another receiving plate 55 on the folding table T to be struck on by the rear end of the switch rod S and by the rear end of the ratchet rod 24.

The folding operation of the folding machine in accordance with the present invention will now be described with respect to the above embodiment. The cloth C placed on the cloth table 37 of the main folding body A is reeved on the guide shaft 7, guide shaft 5, and guide roller 6, and the starting end of the cloth C is caught and pressed by the card clothing 43 on the rear catcher B. When the contact member S on the switch rod 5 is brought into contact with the contact member S on the side frame 1, the motor M, is set in rotation in normal direction to drive the main folding body A toward the front catcher B. The main folding body A which comes close to the catcher B now raises the guide rollers 52 on the elevating arms 42 of the catcher B by the upper guide surfaces 8 in the cloth-folding means. Accordingly, as schematically shown in FIG. 13, the elevating arms 42 are raised, and by the clothpressing member 45 on their forward ends the pivotal member 16 of the cloth-folding means is pushed inward to fold the cloth C with the forward end of the projection 15. When the guide rollers 52 are thereafter brought to the top end of the upper guide surfaces 8, the guide rollers get released from the guide surfaces 8, allowing the elevating arms 42 to fall down due to their own weight as shown in FIG, 14, with the result that a more distinct fold is produced in the cloth C with the folded portion held and pressed by the card clothing 43 on the cloth-pressing member 45. In addition since the card clothing 43 is heated by the heater 44 in mesh form provided in the rear portion of the card clothing 43, the folded portion is heated upon being pressed to form a distinct fold line.

When the main folding body A is moved toward the catcher B to effect the above-described cloth-folding operation, the forward end of the switch rod S on the main folding body A is brought into contact with the receiving plate 54 on the catcher B to slidably urge the switch rod S backward, whereupon the contact member S gets released from the contact member S and the contact members S and S come into contact with each other. The motor M is now driven in the reverse direction to cause the main folding body A to move toward the rear catcher B as shown in FIGS. and 16, and the same folding operation is carried out as with the catcher B. When the main folding body A is moved toward the catcher B, the rear end of the ratchet rod 24 mounted on the main folding body A strikes against the receiving plate 55 on the cloth-folding table T and moves forward while compressing the coil spring 23, thus raising the cloth-folding means by a stage every time the main folding body A performs a round of reciprocating travel by means of the ratchet 22, group of gears 25 25, chain 27, sprocket 26, rotary shaft 18 and chain 19. Therefore, even in case layers of cloth are piled up on the folding table T, the main folding body A is free to perform reciprocation to fold a long piece of cloth in smooth operation.

Furthennore, even when the edges of cloth are in deviated positions due to irregular arrangement of the cloth during operation, the detecting and correcting system already described automatically detects and corrects the deviation before the cloth is subjected to folding operation without interrupting the operation, so that an efi'rcient folding operation is ensured,

In the present invention, the main folding body A is not necessarily set in reciprocation by electrical means, but instead it may also be moved reciprocally by a manual operatron.

Although an important mode of embodiment has been described as above, the above embodiment has been given merely by way of example and the present invention is not limited only to this embodiment. While it is possible for those skilled in the art to provide various alterations other than the above embodiment, these alterations are to be included in the scope of the present invention so far as they do not depart from the claims set forth below.

What is claimed is:

l. A cloth-folding machine having a cloth-folding table, a main folding body adapted to be moved reciprocally backward and forward thereon and two catchers disposed to the front and rear of said main folding body and spaced a desired distance apart, a cloth-pressing means on each of said catchers being adapted to press the folded portions of a cloth alternately to fold the cloth in a predetermined length, said cloth-pressing means having a cloth-pressing member including heating means, a cloth-folding means associated with said main folding body, means suspended from said main folding body for gradually elevating said cloth-folding means in synchronization with the reciprocation of said main folding body and a system coupled to said main folding body for automatically detecting and correcting uneven disposition of the cloth edge due to irregular arrangement of the cloth.

2. A cloth-folding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cloth-pressing means comprises a card clothing for pressing cloth and said heating means is a heater for heating said card clothing, and elevating arms on said catchers on the forward ends of which said card clothing and heater are mounted.

3. A cloth-folding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for elevating said cloth-folding means comprises a ratchet rod mounted on a side frame of said main folding body so as to be slidably moved forward and having a ratchet at the forward end, a spring for returning said ratchet rod to the original position, a group of gears meshing with said ratchet. a rotary shaft adapted to be turned by the rotation of said group of gears by means of sprockets and a chain, chains suspending said cloth-folding means and reeved around said rotary shaft and a receiving plate to be struck against by the rear end of said ratchet ro when said main folding body is returned so as to move the said ratchet rod forward.

4. The cloth-folding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system for automatically detecting and correcting uneven disposition of the cloth edge comprises a photoelectric device mounted on said main folding body at a position where the cloth edge passes and having a passage for the cloth edge. a hydraulic means provided with a hydraulic system control means and actuated by said photoelectric device, an electromagnetic switching valve switched by said hydraulic system control means, a pressure oil tank connected to said electromagnetic valve and having a hydraulic pump and a motor, a hydraulic cylinder connected to said electromagnetic valve and a cloth table mounted on the piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder and supported on said main folding body so as to be moved slidably.

* t t i 

1. A cloth-folding machine having a cloth-folding table, a main folding body adapted to be moved reciprocally backward and forward thereon and two catchers disposed to the front and rear of said main folding body and spaced a desired distance apart, a cloth-pressing means on each of said catchers being adapted to press the folded portions of a cloth alternately to fold the cloth in a predetermined length, said cloth-pressing means having a cloth-pressing member including heating means, a cloth-folding means associated with said main folding body, means suspended from said main folding body for gradually elevating said clothfolding means in synchronization with the reciprocation of said main folding body and a system coupled to said main folding body for automatically detecting and correcting uneven disposition of the cloth edge due to irregular arrangement of the cloth.
 2. A cloth-folding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cloth-pressing means comprises a card clothing for pressing cloth and said heating means is a heater for heating said card clothing, and elevating arms on said catchers on the forward ends of which said card clothing and heater are mounted.
 3. A cloth-folding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for elevating said cloth-folding means comprises a ratchet rod mounted on a side frame of said main folding body so as to be slidably moved forward and having a ratchet at the forward end, a spring for returning said ratchet rod to the original position, a group of gears meshing with said ratchet, a rotary shaft adapted to be turned by the rotation of said group of gears by means of sprockets and a chain, chains suspending said cloth-folding means and reeved around said rotary shaft and a receiving plate to be struck against by the rear end of said ratchet rod when said main folding body is returned so as to move the said ratchet rod forward.
 4. The cloth-folding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system for automatically detecting and correcting uneven disposition of the cloth edge comprises a photoelectric device mounted on said main folding body at a position where the cloth edge passes and having a passage for the cloth edge, a hydraulic means provided with a hydraulic system control means and actuated by said photoelectric device, an electromagnetic switching valve switched by said hydraulic system control means, a pressure oil tank connected to said electromagnetic valve and having a hydraulic pump and a motor, a hydraulic cylinder connected to said electromagnetic valve and a cloth table mounted on the piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder and supported on said main folding body so as to be moved slidably. 